Chapter 29
Stephen’s POVContent property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
Lately my life has had a pretty amount of twirls and turns. It had been six months since my meeting with Merlyn and something significantly changed inside me. I think I was not the usual poker face and the grinch that she often called me. I started looking at things in life with positivity.
My mother had slowly been recouping from her depression. She had now stopped almost all her medicines except two the most vital ones. Though my brother’s void could never be fulfilled in her heart, I made every possible attempt within my reach to help her out of the tragedy. My dad was also heartbroken but he was a balanced man and kept his emotions in control.
For a few days they went to my grandfather’s place. The man is like a backbone to our family. Though he is almost eighty his ideas are young and innovative, capable of enticing today’s youth. Even today after six years of introducing myself to the business, I take his advice.
At my work front I was comparatively relaxed. Since Mr Luke’s death though it has been almost 5 years today nobody could make up to my demands. Accountants came and resigned, hardly each of them sticking for a month or two. But since my new accountant and my sweetheart took over Luke’s job, I am at peace in seventh heaven.
Though Merlyn is only 22, she has the maturity level of people much older to her. She is still a fresh graduate but has the capability of doing her work with expertise. I am yet to confess anything about her parents death and my heart disagrees every time I make a venture. I have no idea how long I could carry this weight on my shoulder. Every time I look at her the culpability of sinning blinded by the eyes of richness and pride washes over me like a plague.
I understand she is hardworking and intelligent which could take her much ahead in life. At least I want to fill a part of my evil done to her with goodness. The time I confess the heart breaking truth to her, I will already have made arrangements for her next employment and a huge balance in her bank account which would look after her future.
I searched on the web and decided to enroll her in a post graduation course in accountancy at one of the night colleges nearby her house, so that she can have a bright future. She at first hesitated to accept my offer as she was doubtful she could pay the fees but when I assured her that it was only a loan and she could repay me when she gets a better job, she readily accepted my offer.
I was completely engrossed in work when a file of previous month financial statement attracted my attention. I decided to call her and do some hunky-punky business after which I could check about Shaw & Co who was our debtor for the last few months.
Within a few minutes there was a knock at the door and there she arrived. My heart skipped a beat just by looking at her. She was dressed simple in black pants and a plain white top yet there was an elegance and a kind of poise in each of her movements and mannerisms. It was the moment when I was not able to contemplate my own feelings. She is the love of my life. My Flower. The girl who was present in my every dream since I attained my puberty. Fucking, if not for the accident, I would have made her mine by now.
Merlyn was the test of my patience and my future, the girl I so much desire, very close yet so far.
I thought I would be okay after having a few one night stands. But soon I could understand, they were only for physical pleasure. There was always a vacuum in me. Merlyn is different from every girl I saw. She made me complete, dream of positive things and brought solace in my kernel.
Girls keep stealing glances at me but Merlyn was always different. Though we had an advanced level of physical relationship, she always behaved professionally in the office. She kept her eyes to work and looked at me only when asked for something. I was falling for this woman more and more and knowing the veracity of facts every passing day it was becoming hell a lot difficult keeping my emotions at bay.
Putting my sentiments aside I upheld my cold demeanour of a boss and put forward my hand to take the file from her hand asking her to take a seat. In my heart I just feel like hugging her and kissing passionately.
I was awestruck by her skill in accounts. When Mr Benjamin told me she was perfect and more experienced than Mr Luke I had no words to say knowing fully well her age and her graduation in physiotherapy instead of accounts.
I was completely satisfied with her answers regarding every detail she delivered. Moving the file away from my eyes, urging to see her intoxicating face once again, I blanketed my emotions and asked her if she could prepare me a cup of coffee as my personal assistant was on leave. She immediately nodded and left the room.
I started breathing again which I never knew I held back. Feeling an urge for distraction from the woman moving in front of me, I called my friend Haynes to my office so that we can have some guy’s time and just move into a club to relax as it was almost closing time.
Haynes had been a play boy right since his young age. He was a classmate of mine and also my best friend except for his flirty deeds towards women which I never liked.
As Haynes’s office was quite nearby, he came to my office within a few minutes of time. ‘Hey Stephen! What’s up man? You never call me. It’s only I who wants to mingle with you. What happened to the cold hearted businessman? Does he not want to work anymore?” He started kidding me. I raised my hand for a hi five and was chatting with my best friend when she arrived.
Haynes immediately turned his head sideways to look into the person standing beside him and fell aghast by the beauty walking ahead of him. He regained his composure and greeted her with a puzzled face ‘Hey beautiful! Are you new to this company? My accountant did not reply to him immediately. In fact she took her time and without looking much into him she spoke in her ever soft voice ‘yes sir, very recently.”
I inwardly felt a relief flood over my face. I do not know why but I felt happy, she was not attracted to him. Haynes was charming, handsome and smart but a flirt. Thankfully Merlyn did not fall for his tricks. ‘We are organizing a party at Hotel Grand on the successful 10th year of our company launch. I wish to personally invite you to the party.” Merlyn just put a blank face and answered him very courteously ‘sir I have a younger brother to take care of at home. Besides, I am not habituated to late night parties.” With that she turned her face towards me and asked permission for her to leave after she placed the coffee on my table. I immediately nodded and felt reprieved that she had left.
The feelings of Stephen are growing stronger for Merlyn with the passing period of time and at the same time the fear of losing her after learning the deathly truth was killing him.
Merlyn has similar feelings for Stephen but was being professional since she needed the job utmostly to regain back her losing family.
What is going to be the fate of these two love birds?